Pocket Constitutions: America’s Founding Document in Small Print

For a document that is usually found behind glass casing in museums and galleries, many have taken advantage of the ability to carry it in their purse, wallet—or better yet—their pocket. The US Constitution is one of the oldest and shortest constitutions in the world. This brevity comes with significant advantages: it is easily accessible, it could be read before your coffee gets cold, and it could also be mass produced on a large scale. Indeed, as the insights, commentary, and controversies regarding the American Constitution continue to get larger and more sophisticated in the 21st century, this brief 18th century text seems more relevant than ever. But in part, this renaissance is coming in pocket form through the mass production and distribution of pocket US Constitutions.